Walter J. Stoessel Jr.

Walter John Stoessel Jr. (January 24, 1920 – December 9, 1986) was an American diplomat.

Walter John Stoessel Jr.
7th United States Deputy Secretary of State
In office February 11, 1982 – September 22, 1982
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	William P. Clark Jr.
Succeeded by	Kenneth W. Dam
United States Secretary of State
Ad interim
In office July 5, 1982 – July 16, 1982
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Alexander Haig
Succeeded by	George P. Shultz
United States Ambassador to West Germany
In office October 27, 1976 – January 5, 1981
Nominated by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Martin J. Hillenbrand
Succeeded by	Arthur F. Burns
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office March 4, 1974 – September 13, 1976
Nominated by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Jacob D. Beam
Succeeded by	Malcolm Toon
9th Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
In office August 9, 1972 – January 7, 1974
President	Richard Nixon
Secretary	William P. Rogers Henry Kissinger
Preceded by	Martin J. Hillenbrand
Succeeded by	Arthur A. Hartman
United States Ambassador to Poland
In office September 12, 1968 – August 5, 1972
Nominated by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	John A. Gronouski
Succeeded by	Richard T. Davies
11th Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
In office February 28, 1981 – January 26, 1982
Preceded by	David D. Newsom
Succeeded by	Lawrence Eagleburger
Personal details
Born	(1920-01-24)January 24, 1920 Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Died	December 9, 1986(1986-12-09) (aged 66) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater	Stanford University Columbia University
Profession	Diplomat

Life and career

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Stoessel was the son of Katherine (Haston) and Walter John Stoessel Sr. and graduated from Beverly Hills High School in California. The paternal side of his family had migrated to the United States from western Germany in the middle of 19th century. He graduated from Stanford University in 1941 and later undertook graduate studies at Columbia University.

A career officer of the United States Foreign Service, Stoessel served as the U.S. ambassador to Poland from 1968 to 1972, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs from 1972 to 1974, the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1976, and the ambassador to West Germany from 1976 through 1980. During his term as ambassador to Poland, Stoessel initiated contact with China and hosted talks on behalf of the United States, directly opening the door for President Richard Nixon's famous visit to China. In 1981, while ambassador to West Germany, he joined the delegation, with Walter Mondale, greeting the U.S. hostages released by Iran when they deplaned.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Stoessel as the United States Deputy Secretary of State. During his term he served briefly as acting Secretary of State between the tenures of Alexander M. Haig and George P. Shultz.

He died in Washington, D.C., of leukemia and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S. Department of State awards a Walter J. Stoessel Award for Distinguished Diplomatic Service in his honor.